Be sure to like HockeyBuzz on facebook! For the latest Leafs updates or Follow @mikeinbuffalo on Twitter
The Toronto Maple Leafs four-game losing skid early in the season can be attributed to a general post-playoff malaise, but occurred mostly because of the offensive struggles of forwards Auston Matthews, John Tavares, Mitch Marner and to a lesser extent William Nylander. The Leafs winning ways have returned with their core group finding the twine, as the club won their third in a row with a 4-0 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday.
Matthews scored a pair, Marner and Nylander added singles and Jack Campbell stopped 26 shots for his fourth victory and first shutout of the season.
“I thought the (top line of Matthews, Nylander and Michael Bunting) had a little bit of an extra jump in their step right from the very beginning. With the Tavares (Marner and Alex Kerfoot) line, I thought they continued with their momentum and they scored us a huge goal again here tonight to get us moving.… Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said after the game “I thought all four lines and six defensemen and obviously Jack in net was perfect, so a lot of really good things to feel good about.….
With the victory, the Leafs move to 4-1-1 at home, over .500 (5-4-1) and in a three-way tie for second place in the Atlantic with Buffalo and Tampa Bay, who will be Toronto’s next opponent on Thursday.
*******
The Leafs sat defenseman Justin Holl for the second straight game on Monday after going pointless and -7 in his first seven games, but there could be changes afoot after the Vegas game, as blueliner Travis Dermott played just one shift in the second period and just under 14 minutes in the contest. Morgan Rielly, Jake Muzzin, TJ Brodie, and Rasmus Sandin played in excess of 20 minutes and Timothy Liljegren was +2 in nearly 18 minutes on the ice.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported on Wednesday’s Jeff Marek Show that the Leafs have let it be known around the league that one of their right side defenseman are available. In spite of Holl being scratched, it is not believed that he is being shopped and Liljegren is thriving after getting some regular work, but Dermott has just one point in nine games played on his off side.
Toronto does not have any experienced depth on defense, (they have right-handed Joseph Duszak and Brennan Menell with the Marlies that could be options) but they might be willing to move Dermott to clear his two-year, $3 million contract to help create room for Morgan Rielly’s new contract and possibly a new deal for Campbell.
*******
Lot’s of â¤ï¸ for the 💙ðŸ¤
— Norman James (@IamNormanJames) April 26, 2021
Convo on Podcast.#theleafsconvo https://t.co/Xdn3CDLVCI
*******If you are interested in sponsorship or advertising your business in the Greater Toronto / Southern Ontario area on this column, please send a message for more information by clicking on the “Contact… button at the top of the page.*******